Disk harrow



Feb. 23, 1954 Filed May 10, 1948 IO N H. A. PURSCHE DISK HARROW 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR,

Feb. 23, 1954 Filed y 10, 1948 A. F uRscHE DISK HARROW 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR,

Patented F eb. 23, 1954 2,669,818 F l -CE :DISK HARE-W V" Harry Pursche, Gardena, Calif. Application May 10, 1948, Serial No. 26,041

' .10 Claims. (or. 55-73) v"Ihiswinvention relates to agricultural implements and. is particularly directed to improvements in diskharrows.

The principal object of this invention is toprovide adiskharrow having diverging gangs of disks 1 set .at a. predetermined angle 1 and having -a;plurality..of groundengaging wheels disposed ginanovel fashion to support the devicewith. the disk gangs clear of the ground or to control. the depth of operation ofsaiddisks.

:Another object isto provide novel means for rraising and lowering the ground engagingwheels hand for adjusting their relative vertical positions.

Another object is to position one of the ground it engaging wheels adjacent the forwardend of the leading disk gang to minimize the-tendency of that end of 1theforw-ard disk gang to dig into the ground beyond the desired depth.

:,Another object is to provide asupporting assembly for diverging gangs of disks includinga .single ground engaging wheel positioned between :the converging endsof the disk gangs, and apair f spaced ground engaging wheelspositioned betweenlthe divergingendsof thedisk gangathe latter two wheels beingrelatively offset inorder that the rear wheel may not rollin thepathzleft .bythe front wheel.

Other relatedobjects and advantages will appearhereinafter.

In the drawings:

.:Figure 1 is a top plan view ofa preferred em- ;bodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectionalside elevation taken sub- ;,stantially 'on the lines 2-4 as shown in :Figure .1,.and.showing.the disk gangs in groundengagring position.

Figure 3 is aview similar to Figure 2 showing ithe disk'gangs raised clear of the ground.

:iReferring to the drawings, a frame generally designated l0 is adapted to support a forward .disk gang I. and a rearward; disk gang I2. .Each .of thedisk gangs is provided with a plurality of rotatable ground engaging disks |3 ofconventional form axially spaced along each ofrthe sub- ..frames |4.and |51 respectively. .It will'be observed that the disks on the forwardgang .facetin one-direction while those on the rearward gang |2 face in another direction in accordance with conventional practice.

Suitable bearing means are provided for rotatably supporting the individual disks on the frames [4 and I5, and cleaner elements It of the -usualtype may extend adjacent the working edge .of the disks toavoid build-up of earth. The sub- :frames I4 and |5 together with theindividual disks I3 and their associated supporting bearings imay be of conventional type. i

The frame In includes ashort beam Ilsuitably connected at its ends to the subframes l4 and lirespectively. The connectionmay be ac- ..complished bymeans of bolts or othersuitable ..releasable fasteningsior the frames maybe welded together if desired. A long beam assembly means includes three ground engaging Wheelsfl,

l8 also extends between the subframes i i and I5 and .is joinedina similar fashion to said subframes. The long beam assembly It may include .ubeam elements:|9,.20, 2| and. 22. suitably con- :znected to .provide stiffness and rigidity. .The short beam H and the. longbeam assembly l8 gareisecured to the subframes l4 and |5 ina manner to maintainthe forward diskflgang Ill. and the rearward disk gang l2 inrfixed angular. relationship. As shown in. Figure, 1, the .disk assemblies .divergefrom adjacent ends 23 and toward the remoteendsiifi and 26.

.;-Means are provided. for supporting disk gangs clear of the ground and for controlling the depth of operation, andas shown in thedra'wingsthis Hand 29. The forward wheel 21 is positioned ..-.adjacent.the forward end 26 of the front Qdisk gang and is rotatably mounted on a horizontal axle 39 carried at .thelower end ofa forwardly projecting .crankarmBI. The crank .arml3l is fixed. on a front shaft32 rotatably supportedin spaced. bearings.33..and 34. The bearing 33 constitutes a stationary sleeve fixed tothe long beam frame elements 19 vand 2B, and .the bearing (34 comprises av sleeve carried at the extending .end

.of a strut35 attached to thesubframe M. .A

master control lever 36 is fixed on the tubular ,shaft 32. and extends upwardlytherefrom.

:In similar fashion the intermediate. wheel .29 .is mounted on a. stationary axle 31 carriedatthe lower end of a forwardly extending crankarm .38 fixed on the intermediate shaft 39. The shaft -39 is rotatably supported in spaced bearings .40

and 4|,thebearing 40 comprising .a sleeve fixed to the long beam elements l9 and 2| and the bearing 4| comprising a sleeve ;carried..by-the shortbeam ll. A control lever 42 is fixed onthe tubular shaft 39 and extends upwardly therefrom. The rear wheel 28 .is rotatably mountedon the stationary axle |3 carried at thelower end. of.=a forwardlyextending crank arm 44. The crank arm 44 is fixed on the tubular shaft .45carried .in axially spaced sleeve bearings 4'5 ..and 41 mounted on the long beam elements |9and= 2| and on the strut48 respectively. Thestrut .48 is securedon the rear-subframe l5. Acontrol lever 49 is fixed on the rear shaft 45.and extends upwardly therefrom.

As shown clearly in :Figures 2 .and 3,the.con- .trol leversfiii, Hand 59 are mechanicallyinterconnected for: dependent operation. Thus clevises #50 pivotally connected to the control. levers -38 and 42 are joined by rods 5| andrturnbuckle 52. A look nut53 may be provided for locking the turnbuckle "52in adjusted position. Ina similar fashion the clevises 54 pivotally connected tothe control levers 42 andflllrespetively are connected by'rods 55 and turnbuckle56. A

supporting wheels 21, 28 and 29. As shown in the drawings this means includes a power cylinder 58 pivotally attached to the frame 16 at 59 and having a rearwardly extending piston rod 60. The piston rod 60 carries a clevis 6| pivotally attached to the master control lever 36 by means of a pivot pin 62. Suitable hydraulic connections 63 and 64 are provided for moving the piston rod 60 in either direction. Flexible hydraulic lines 63a and 64a. extend from the lines 63 and 64 respectively to a suitable source of hydraulic pressure preferably mounted on the tractor (not shown) which is used to tow the disk harrow device.

A depth control rod 65 is pivotally attached at 66 to the upper portion of the master control lever 36 and extends through an eye 61 carried on the frame [0. The forwardly extending end of the rod 65 is confined between the nut 68 and the eye 61 and serves as a stop to limit the clockwise movement of the control lever 36 as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. This serves to provide a means of regulating the depth of cut of the disks I3 and the depth may be adjusted by adjusting the nut 68 with respect to the rod 65.

A lug 10 secured to the rod 65 is adapted to pass through the eye 61, and the lug is provided with a central aperture H to receive a pin (not shown). The pin may be inserted through the aperture TI to prevent return of the lug 10 through the eye 61 when the ground engaging wheels are in the position shown in Figure 3, and in this manner the hydraulic cylinder 58 may be relieved of the load required to maintain the disk gangs II and 12 in elevated position. This feature is a useful one when the harrow device is to be transported for a considerable distance with the disk gangs l l and 12 in raised position.

A suitable towing connection is provided for connecting the harrow device to a tractor or other towing vehicle. As shown in the drawings this towing connection includes a pair of clevises l2 pivotally connected to lugs 13 provided on the forward subframe [4. A forwardly extending tow bar 14 may be connected to one of the clevises T2 at one end and provided with a draft connection 15 at the other end. A link 16 may connec-t the other clevis 12 with the tow bar 14 as shown in Figure 1.

In order to provide additional stiffness it may be desirable to employ a rod brace 11 extending from a position near the end 25 on the rearward subframe 15 to a position near the end 24 of the forward subframe M. The rod brace 11 preferably passes over a post 18 extending upwardly from the short beam H. A turnbuckle 19 may be provided for tensioning the rod brace 11 in an obvious manner.

The provision of three ground supporting wheels for my improved disk harrow device avoids the teeter-totter or seesaw effect commonly present in two-wheel harrows in which the forward disk gang may dig into the ground to an objectionable extent while the rearward disk gang is raised partially or completely out of contact with the ground. This objectionable feature is entirely avoided in the device embodying my invention. The forward wheel 21 is mounted in the laterally offset position with respect to the rear wheel 28 in order that the latter may not roll in the track left by the forward wheel 21. Furthermore, this lateral offset enables the forward wheel 21 to be mounted closer to the end 26 of the forward disk gang ll than would otherwise be the case, and I have found that this is a highly advantageous feature since the forward end 26 of the front disk gang H is the end which normally gives the greatest trouble in diving or in digging into the ground to a greater depth than desired.

The turnbuckles 52 and 56 afford a convenient and effective means of adjusting the relative position of any one of the ground engaging wheels with respect to the frame In and thereby insure optimum contact of the disk gangs with the ground. The stop means provided by the stop sleeve 69 and stationary eye 61 regulates the lowering action of all three wheels simultaneously.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for supporting a pair of diverging gangs of harrow disks, the combination of: a frame adapted to support the disk gangs in fixed tandem angular relationship; a plurality of ground engaging wheels positioned between the disk gangs and adapted to support the frame, said plurality of wheels including a forward wheel positioned in close proximity to the forward end of the forward disk gang, an intermediate wheel positioned at a location near the adjacent ends of the disk gangs, and a rear wheel positioned near the rear disk gang, the distance between the forward wheel and the foremost harrow disk on the forward disk gang being substantially less than the distance from the rear wheel to the rearmost harrow disk on the rear disk gang, the forward and rear wheels being laterally offset to roll in separate paths.

2. In a device for supporting a pair of diverging gangs of harrow disks, the combination of: a frame adapted to support the disk gangs in fixed tandem angular relationship; a plurality of ground engaging wheels positioned between the disk gangs and adapted to support the frame; power means on the frame for raising the frame on said wheels, said plurality of wheels including a forward wheel positioned in close proximity to the forward end of the forward disk gang, an intermediate wheel positioned at a location near the adjacent ends of the disk gangs, and a rear wheel positioned near the rear disk gang, the distance between the forward wheel and the foremost harrow disk on the forward disk gang being substantially less than the distance from the rear wheel to the rearmost harrow disk on the rear disk gang, the forward and rear wheels being laterally offset so that the rear wheel does not roll in the track of the forward wheel.

3. In a disk harrow, the combination of: a pair of gangs of harrow disks; a frame connected to and supporting the disk gangs in fixed tandem diverging relationship; ground engaging wheels positioned between the disk gangs and adapted to support the frame, including a forward wheel positioned adjacent the forward end of the forward disk gang, an intermediate wheel positioned at a location between the adjacent ends of the disk gangs, and a rear wheel positioned near the rear disk gang, the distance between the forward wheel and the foremost harrow disk on the forward disk gang being substantially less than the distance from the rear wheel to the rearmost harrow disk on the rear disk gang, the forward and rear wheels being laterally offset to roll in separate paths.

4. In a disk harrow, the combination of: a pair of gangs of harrow disks; a frame connected to and supporting the disk gangs in fixed tandem diverging relationship; ground engaging wheels positioned between the disk gangs and adapted to support the frame, including a forward wheel positioned adjacent the forward end of the forward disk gang, an intermediate wheel positioned at a location near the adjacent ends of the disk gangs, and a rear wheel positioned near the rear disk gang, the forward and rear wheels being laterally offset to roll in separate aths, the distance between the forward wheel and the foremost harrow disk on the forward disk gang being substantially less than the distance from the rear wheel to the rearmost harrow disk on the rear disk gang, and power means on the frame for raising the frame on said wheels.

5. In a disk harrow, the combination of: a pair of gangs of harrow disks; a frame connected to and supporting the disk gangs in fixed tandem diverging relationship; three ground engaging wheels positioned between the disk gangs and adapted to support the frame, including a forward wheel positioned adjacent the forward end of the forward disk gang; an intermediate wheel positioned at a location near the adjacent ends of the disk gangs, and a rear wheel positioned near the rear disk gang and behind the forward wheel but laterally offset to roll in a separate path, the distance between the forward wheel and the foremost harrow disk on the forward disk gang being substantially less than the distance from the rear wheel to the rearmost harrow disk on the rear disk gang.

6. In a device for supporting a pair of diverging gangs of harrow disks, the combination of: a frame for supporting the disk gangs in fixed tandem angular relationship; three transverse parallel shafts including a forward shaft, an intermediate shaft and a rear shaft; the shafts each being turnably mounted on the frame and each having a crank fixed thereon, the crank on the forward shaft extending forwardly; three ground-engaging wheels positioned between the disk gangs for supporting the frame, including a forward wheel rotatably mounted on the forwardly extending crank of the forward shaft and positioned closely adjacent the foremost harrow disk on the forward disk gang, an intermediate wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft of the second crank and positioned at a location near the adjacent ends of the disk gangs and a rear wheel rotatably mounted on the crank of the rear shaft near the rear disk gang; means including first and second links connecting one of the shafts to each of the others for dependent movement; and means for adiustably varying the effective length of each of said links whereby the frame and diverging disk gangs may be adjustably levelled both longitudinally and transversely.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which power means are provided on the frame and operatively connected to one of the shafts for simultaneously turning the shafts to raise the frame and disk gangs. 7

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which single adjustable stop means are provided at the forward end of the frame and operatively connected to one of the shafts for limiting turning movement of all three shafts in the direction to lower the frame.

9. In a device for supporting a pair of diverging gangs of harrow disks, the combination of: a frame for supporting the disk gangs in fixed tandem angular relationship; three transverse parallel shafts including a forward shaft, an intermediate shaft and a rear shaft; the shafts each being turnably mounted on the frame and each having a crank and a lever fixed thereon, the crank on the forward shaft extending forwardly; three ground-engaging wheels positioned between the disk gangs for supporting the frame, including a forward wheel rotatably mounted on the forwardly extending crank of the forward shaft and positioned closely adjacent the foremost harrow disk on the forward disk gang, an intermediate wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft of the second crank and positioned at a location near the adjacent ends of the disk gangs and a rear wheel rotatably mounted on the crank of the rear shaft near the rear disk gang; means including a first link connecting the levers on the forward and intermediate shafts for dependent movement; means including a second link connecting the levers on the intermediate and rear shafts for dependent movement; each of said links including a turnbuckle for varying the effective length thereof whereby the frame and diverging disk gangs may be adjustably levelled both longitudinally and transversely.

10. In a device for supporting a pair of diverging gangs of harrow disks, the combination of: a frame for supporting the disk gangs in fixed tandem angular relationship; three transverse parallel shafts including a forward shaft, an intermediate shaft and a rear shaft; the shafts each being turnably mounted on the frame and each having a crank fixed thereon, the crank on the forward shaft extending forwardly; three ground-engaging wheels each rotatably mounted upon one of said cranks, for supporting the frame, including a forward wheel positioned closely adjacent the foremost harrow disk on the forward disk gang, an intermediate wheel positioned at a location near the adjacent ends of the disk gangs and a rear wheel positioned near the rear disk gang, the forward and rear wheels being positioned on one side of the frame and the intermediate wheel on the other; the distance between the forward wheel and the foremost harrow disk on the forward disk gang being substantially less than the distance from the rear wheel to the rearmost harrow disk on the rear disk gang, the forward and rear wheels being laterally offset to roll in separate paths, means including first and second links connecting one of the shafts to each of the others for dependent movement; and means for adjustably varying the effective length of each of said links whereby the frame and diverging disk gangs may be adjustably levelled both longitudinally and transversely.

HARRY A. PURSCHE.

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